The Union Leader takes Jon Huntsman to task for what it considers a too-clever maneuver of declaring his candidacy the day after the debate he skipped because he wasn't sure he was running:

If Adrian Gonzalez had Huntsman’s sense of timing, he’d lead the American League in strikeouts instead of batting average, hits and RBI.

(snip)

Did he watch the debate and then decide to get into the race? Or had he already decided to run, but to skip the debate for strategic purposes? Either way, he missed a great opportunity to do three very important things: 1) introduce himself to a statewide and national audience that surely will be bigger than the audience for his solo announcement; 2) distinguish himself from the pack; 3) launch himself into the race with some serious forward momentum.

Gov. Huntsman seems to be a serious and accomplished man who could make a viable run at the nomination. It will be nice to have him in the race. It is unfortuante for him — and for the voters — that he waited until after the game began before he decided to play.

Winning the UL, with its deep influence in the state, is all the harder now for Huntsman, a candidate whose map begins in the Granite State.